Students entering their first year of college are often warned of the difficult transition from high school to college. And it’s a transition full of difficult learning experiences for sure. But what about the next year? What about five terms from your freshman year?
As a freshman, I assumed I’d have the whole college thing all figured out by my sophomore year. I’d be rocking all my classes, doing extracurriculars, working more hours at my job all while living the college experience. Instead, as a sophomore I’ve found my work schedule overwhelming, my class schedule unexciting and in general have experienced a lack of motivation to follow through with school and life commitments. I’ve felt frustrated that I’ve turned assignments in late, don’t have straight A’s, and have felt overwhelmed with my credits. My sophomore self was supposed to perfectly balance my social, academic and work life simultaneously.
On a whim, partially fueled by feeling overwhelmed by countless essays and assignments, I googled “How to survive your sophomore year of college,” not expecting any useful search results. But instead, link after link popped up all containing the unfamiliar phrase “sophomore slump”. I reasoned it was probably just a term used to make unmotivated students like myself feel better about their lack of motivation, but out of curiosity I began to research it. I read articles from other prior college sophomore’s experiences to a New York Times article about the science behind the sophomore slump, and I discovered I was very much not alone in my struggles.
So, what is the sophomore slump?
One day when talking with an advisor, I made an off handed comment about struggling with the sophomore slump. She responded by saying that often people acknowledge the freshman experience and the difficult transition from high school to college but overlook the struggles of other class grades. Of course, the transition from high school to college is undeniably difficult. But during my freshman year, everything was new and exciting with school feeling something like an adventure. By your sophomore year, college begins to feel repetitive and the excitement of new friends, classes and in general a new life slowly fades away.
The sophomore slump can take many different forms. For some students, school becomes boring, uninteresting and going to class becomes optional. Some may stop putting as much effort into their friendships or relationships. But in any case, losing all motivation and interest in school is a symptom.
It’s okay if you’re feeling like you’re in a rut, the most important thing to remember is that you aren’t alone. Whether you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, there are points in college when school will feel repetitive and uninteresting. No grade level is exempted.
How to end the sophomore slump
There’s definitely no one way to get out of a slump, but at least acknowledging that you’re in one can be a start. Speaking with an advisor, counselor, friend, family member or any trusted person can be helpful. And most of all don’t allow the sophomore slump define or control you. Find new clubs, extracurriculars or outlets to help you cope, and don’t be afraid to take some time for yourself as you navigate the school year. It’s important to understand that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed or even unmotivated when it comes to school, because once you admit it and talk about it, then you can work to find a solution.
My hope is that anyone plagued by a slump knows that they aren’t alone in it. It’s something I’ve personally struggled with and witnessed many of sophomore friends struggle through. And perhaps most of all, remember that it’s only a slump; it’s not permanent. So, slump or no slump, find new interests and make the most of every year!